GURUGRAM- Air India (AI) has detected widespread misuse of its Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) policy by more than 4,000 employees after an internal investigation uncovered irregular claims.

The airline has initiated corrective measures, including refunds and penalties against staff involved in the violations.

The Tata Group-owned carrier employs more than 24,000 people. According to sources, discrepancies linked to the staff travel program were identified during a detailed internal review of policy usage.

Air India ELT Policy Misuse

Air India launched a detailed investigation after noticing unusual patterns in claims made under the Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) policy. The review found that a significant number of employees had misused the ELT benefit program by submitting incorrect nominee details.

Sources familiar with the matter told PTI that the discrepancies surfaced after the airline conducted an extensive internal audit of the travel claims.

According to The Economic Times, more than 4,000 Air India employees were found to have misused the ELT policy.

Some employees reportedly declared individuals who were not their legitimate relatives as nominees in order to obtain free air tickets. In certain cases, staff members allegedly obtained complimentary tickets and sold them to other travelers at higher prices.

The investigation revealed that several violations dated back to the previous financial year. While the airline identified a large number of policy breaches, specific details about the exact financial impact of the misuse could not be determined.

Air India did not respond to detailed queries seeking official comments on the matter and the actions taken against employees involved in the violations.

Air India, which was acquired by the Tata Group in January 2022, is a loss-making airline currently undergoing a major transformation program aimed at improving operational efficiency and corporate governance.

Understanding the ELT Policy

The Employee Leisure Travel (ELT) policy provides complimentary travel benefits to Air India staff. Under this program, employees are allowed to issue a limited number of free tickets each financial year for themselves and nominated family members.

Eligible nominees typically include close relatives such as spouses and parents. Employees are required to provide nominee details along with documentation that proves the relationship before accessing the travel benefits.

Each employee is entitled to receive up to 14 travel passages, or return tickets, in a financial year.

What Are Open-Jaw Tickets in the ELT Program

The travel allowance may also include open-jaw tickets. An open-jaw ticket refers to a booking where the arrival city differs from the departure city on the return segment of the journey.

This flexibility allows employees to travel between different origin and destination points while still using the ELT travel entitlement.

Patterns of Misuse Identified

The investigation revealed several forms of misuse within the program. Some employees allegedly added unrelated individuals as nominees in order to obtain free tickets.

Investigators also found instances where staff members issued tickets under the ELT policy and later sold them privately to other passengers for profit. Such actions violated the terms of the employee travel benefit program.

Sources also indicated that most of the employees found to have misused the policy had joined the airline after its privatization.

The issue has also raised concerns about oversight within the airline. One source indicated that the case points to failures at multiple levels within the organization.

The situation has also triggered discussions around employee ethics, as the misuse of company benefits raised broader questions about morality and professional conduct.

Corrective Measures and Stricter Compliance

Air India has started implementing corrective actions against employees found responsible for policy violations. Staff involved in fraudulent claims have been instructed to refund the value of benefits obtained through misuse.

The airline has also imposed heavy penalties on several employees who violated the rules of the ELT program.

In addition to financial recovery, the airline has tightened verification requirements for nominees listed under the policy.

Employees must now submit stronger documentation to confirm family relationships before tickets are issued.

These measures aim to prevent further misuse and strengthen accountability as Air India continues its operational restructuring under the Tata Group.

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